Brad Guzan is confident the belief and fighting spirit within the Aston Villa squad will see them safe this season.

Villa have spent much of a difficult campaign battling to keep their head above water, and their Premier League status remains far from secure.

They have, however, offered enough over recent weeks to suggest that no-one inside the club is feeling sorry for themselves.

Paul Lambert has opted to work with a young and inexperienced group this year, but there is a hunger within his ranks to prove a point to those who have been quick to write them off.

Guzan, who has starred since replacing Shay Given as first-choice goalkeeper, believes Villa are capable of preserving their top-flight status if everyone connected with the club continues to keep the faith.

Following a vital 3-2 victory over fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, the American shot-stopper said: "There might have been a few that were raising questions - questioning the ability of the players.

"But the manager has been good in terms of giving the players the belief to go and play. He does not have that sense of panic or idea that everything has gone astray.

"Villa Park was rocking and when fans get behind the team and they see guys closing the ball down from 40 yards away and blocking shots and scoring goals, that is what they want.

"It shows the character we are made up of. Not only the ability to come back and fight your way back into a game. But I thought our football was really good as well. For us to keep the ball and pass and create chances on top of fighting and doing the dirty work.

"It is now a matter of getting results and continuing to press on to push up the table, and with results like this I think we will do it no problem."